Healthy Eating
Health Insurance A Necessity Of Life
Not everything in life goes smoothly or as we expect it to. That is why it is important that we should always be careful. Insurance of any kind is important to cover up for the uncertainties that may occur in future.
However the insurance that is most important to have is the health insurance as we can afford not to have the other insurances but the absence of health insurance can prove to be fatal not only for us but also for people around us as well.
There are different types of health insurance policies person who wants to get insured can choose the policy suits them the best. The two main types of policies are
1.Free for service insurance also known as indemnity insurance this is a traditional type of health insurance that pays the portion of each medical service you get like doctors visit and hospital stays while you pay the remaining costs. Premiums are higher than the other policies.
2.Managed care plans also known as HMOs (health management organizations) or PPOs (preferred provider organization). In this case the health insurance company has a contract with doctors and hospitals to provide you service. In this type of health insurance you pay monthly premiums and a small amount per visit called co pay. You can use the advice of other doctors as well by paying a higher amount of co pay.
The best way to go in for the health insurance is through a broker. You can choose your broker depending upon your requirements. A broker can get you a good health insurance policy as well as give you information on several key features of the policy in general. Like:
What is the monthly premium?
Is the policy guaranteed renewablenon cancelable or just guaranteed renewable?
Are premium rates based on age of attaining the policy or using the features of policy?
Does the plan pay for catastrophic medical costs?
You can answers to all the questions and more if you take the help of the brokers in your health insurance policies.
The health insurance organizations offer you different deductibles with larger the deductible the lower the monthly installments. You can choose a deductible of 50% to 80%. It all depends on your conditions.
Individuals with pre existing conditions for example, they have a health problem before going in for health insurance find it difficult to get health insurance coverage. However depending on your state you can choose any of the following policies. They are: open enrollment, health insurance provability and accountability act (HIPAA), high risk pools or temporary coverage.
The borrowers can choose from the myriad of resources that deal in health insurance.
Life is uncertain thats why it is essential that we have insurances with us and every member of our family to live life with a reasonable amount of certainty. Also health insurance has plenty of features which help us in times that we feel a little vulnerable. So it is important that we go for a policy of health insurance.
Health Insurance – Is Some Better Than None?
About 50 years ago, health insurance started to be an attractive incentive offered by employers to attract and keep good employees. Overall, group plans tended to be inexpensive for employers, with employees contributing a small amount of money or none at all to secure health insurance for themselves and their families.
It was more expensive for individuals to pay for non-group policies, but coverage was fairly affordable. Then medical costs started to rise, people started to live longer and the medical profession became adept at curing various diseases and saving and prolonging the lives of people with serious injuries and life-threatening illnesses. Health care and insurance prices started rising much more quickly than annual incomes and premiums began taxing both employers, who were paying the lions share of premiums, and for employees, to whom businesses often passed on costs through larger deductibles, greater out of pocket expenses and higher premiums.
According to a recent report by the MSNBC News Service, 41 percent of Americans whose income ranges from moderate to middle had no health insurance for at least part of 2005. In 2001, that number was much lower28 percent. Additionally, more than 50 percent of uninsured Americans in 2005 found it difficult to pay their medical bills. Another alarming statistic28 percent of Americans in 2005 had no health insurance, while 24 percent had none in 2001.
So, what should a person do if they dont have any health insurance or if they have a choice between a cheap discount plan that does not cover core expenses and an affordable plan that may cost a bit more but also provides much better coverage? According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of people who are not covered for important screening tests, such as a mammogram, colon cancer screening or a PSA test, will not undergo those exams. Also, close to 60 percent of people without health insurance missed treatment or did not buy medicine needed for a chronic condition.
All of these figures point to one thingpeople who lack health coverage for essential services are often unable to pay for those services, putting them at greater risk for developing new or exacerbating existent health conditions.
What should you look for in a health insurance plan, especially when cost is an issue? Its important that you get the best coverage you can afford. Skimping on premiums can save you money upfront, but the result can prove to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Sometimes people cant afford coverage and sometimes they believe because they are healthy that they simply dont need it. However, healthy people get ill or are involved in serious accidents all the time. You never know when youll need coverage.
Some people opt for catastrophic insurance, which usually covers only major medical and hospital expenses above a specific deductible. Under such a plan, the insured pays for routine doctor visits and prescription drugs. With this type of plan, youll pay a low monthly premium but will also have a high deductible and limited coverage. Deductibles start at 500 per year but can be considerably more. If you purchase an inexpensive policy with a 10,000 deductible and you undergo surgery that costs 8,000, you must pay that 8,000. If your surgery costs 12,000, you would owe 10,000.
One insurance company offers a plan that costs 29 per month for a 21 year-old, non-smoking female. Theres a yearly 250 deductible and 2,500 in out of pocket expenses that the insured must pay before the policy kicks in. Hospital, surgical and x-ray expenses are covered but other costs, such as doctor visits, prescription drugs, maternity care and mental healthcare are not included. Theres a lifetime maximum of 1 million.
Its certainly a bargain, if you dont plan on going to the doctor very often. To enroll in a plan that will cover doctor visits, prescriptions, maternity expenses and more could easily cost 400 per montha jump of 371 every 30 days for a total cost of 4,800 per year!
Group health insurance plans, which you can usually enroll in through your employer, union or guild, are the best buy. Individual plans, especially those that offer comprehensive coverage, can be crippling to many peoples pocketbooks. When buying health insurance, its important to shop around. Your choice of what type of plan you purchase will be determined by what you can afford and what you need as far as insurance is concerned. Theres no right or wrong choice when it comes to health insurance but at the very least you should have catastrophic insurance.
There are basically three types of plansFee-For-Service, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO). Fee-For-Service plans offer the most choice regarding doctors and hospitals but they often involve quite a bit of paperwork and are the most expensive. If youre willing to give up some or a lot of choice, do less paperwork and save some money on premiums then either a HMO or a PPO is for you.
A HMO offers the least amount of choice, involves co-pays, has the least amount of paperwork and is the cheapest of the three types of insurance. A PPO combines some elements of Fee-For-Service and a HMO. Youll have more choice than you would with a HMO but less than you would with a Fee-For-Service plan. It tends to be more expensive than a HMO but less expensive than Fee-For-Service. All three types of insurance have some aspect of Managed Carewhich determines how much health care you can useattached to them, with Fee-For-Service having the fewest restrictions and a HMO being restricted the most.
When shopping for health insurance ask the following questions
* How much is the premium?
* What services are covered?
* What are the total deductible and out of pocket expenses per year?
* How much are the co-pays?
* What is the maximum lifetime benefit?
* How much freedom will you have when choosing doctors and hospitals?
* What are the pre-approval procedures for seeing specialists, undergoing a procedure or being given a test?
* What prescription drugs are covered and to what degree?
* Is mental health covered and to what degree?
* Is dental covered and to what degree?
As you begin to narrow down your choices, you can look more closely at specific plans that seem to fit your needs and determine which offer you the best value for your pound?
America has one of the finest healthcare systems in the world and one of the most complex health insurance systems across the globe. Often, they seem to be at odds with one another, unable to communicate and work together. That can be one of the most frustrating parts of anyones foray into the world of healthcare professionals, hospitals and health insurance companies. For this reason alone, its important that you carefully and thoughtfully choose your healthcare benefits provider.
Health Insurance 101 Explained
We all understand the importance of health insurance; however, as the types of health insurance continue to increase it is becoming more and more difficult to select the type of coverage that is best for you and your family. To help you find out which type of policy might benefit you the most, lets take a look at the most common types of policies.
There is usually a lot of hype regarding HMOs so lets look at that one first. A HMO is a health maintenance organization plan that works with a specified group of doctors and hospitals within the network. A primary healthcare physician is selected and you must obtain referrals for care that cannot be provided by that physician. The benefits of this type of plan are lower office visit costs and prescription drug co-pays. In addition, there will typically be either no or limited deductible costs for hospital stays. Depending on your coverage, there may also be no pre-existing condition cause limitations. It is also important to understand that your choice of doctors and hospitals will be limited with a HMO and you wont be able to have out of network services covered.
A PPO or Preferred Provider Organization works similar to a HMO; however, the major difference is that you are not required to select a primary care physician. In addition to the benefit of being free to choose your own physician without worrying about a referral you also gain the benefit of limited or no deductible costs for hospital stays as well as a possible larger selection of physicians that might be available with a HMO. Out of network services may also be covered; however, for a higher charge than in network services.
A POS, or Point of Service, is also similar to a HMO in that you select a primary care physician. The difference is that you are free to choose out of network treatment if youre willing to pay a higher out of pocket cost.
Another option is what is known as a traditional coverage policy. This type of policy will have a higher monthly premium as well as deductibles. In addition, you will generally be required to pay for services out of your own pocket up front and then submit claim reimbursement forms.
You may also wish to consider various types of disability plans, which cover a percentage of your income in the event that you experience an illness or accident that prevents you from working for a period of time. A short term disability plan will provide benefits from the first day of an accident or the eighth day of an illness up to 26 weeks. Generally, this type of plan will cover 66% of your weekly income.
Long term disability will begin after short term coverage has expired and will provide coverage for a variable term, depending on the policy you select. Some policies are limited to providing coverage up to two years while others will cover you up to the age of 65.
Do You Need Health Or Travel Insurance?
Obtaining medical treatment and hospital care can be costly for travelers who are injured or who become seriously ill overseas. The Social Security MedicareMedicaid program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical services outside the United States.
Before you leave the United States, you should be informed about which medical services your health insurance will cover abroad.
Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.
If your health insurance policy does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs abroad, you are urged to purchase a temporary health policy that does provide this type of coverage. There are short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers.
You can find the names of companies that provide such policies from your travel agent, your health insurance company, or from advertisements in travel publications. In addition to health insurance, many policies include trip cancellation, baggage loss, and travel accident insurance in the same package. Some traveler’s check companies have protection policies available with the purchase of traveler’s checks.
Medical Evacuation
Although some health insurance companies may pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for medical evacuation back to the United States. Medical evacuation can easily cost 10,000 or more, depending on your location and medical condition.
One of the main advantages of health and emergency assistance policies is that they often include coverage for medical evacuation to the United States. Even if your regular health insurance covers you for emergencies abroad, you should consider purchasing supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.
Whichever health insurance coverage you choose for travel overseas, remember to carry with you both your health insurance policy identity card and claim forms.
Do You Need Travel Insurance?
You may not need travel insurance, if you are already adequately covered by other insurance policies.
Depending on the travel insurance plan, travel insurance usually promises to cover you for cancellation or interruption of your trip, some form of emergency medical care while you are traveling, lost or stolen luggage, and various other troublesome occurrences.
Before you decide on a travel insurance plan, it is wise to investigate the plan carefully and read the fine print. You should closely check any agreements with your travel agent, tour operator, airline, or other companies involved with your travel plans. The agreements may include written guarantees.
If you have a fully refundable airline ticket, you may decide that you would not need trip cancellationinterruption insurance.
On the other hand, it may be worthwhile noting that certain insurance plans can protect you by covering the financial costs in case of the following situations:
A sudden, serious injury or illness to you, a family member, or a traveling companion.
Financial default of the airline, cruise line or tour operator.
Natural disasters or strikes that impede travel services.
A terrorist incident in a foreign city within 10 days of your scheduled arrival in that particular city.
The fact that you, a traveling member of your family, or a traveling companion were quarantined served with a court order or required to serve on a jury.
A circumstance in which you were directly involved in an accident enroute to departure for your trip.
It is a good idea to check your other insurance policies. For instance, your homeowners or tenants insurance may cover the loss or theft of your luggage.
Certain credit cards may also provide additional travel insurance, if you have used them to purchase the ticket for your trip.
Your health insurance may provide certain coverage, regardless of where you travel. But it is very important to note that some policies only partially cover medical expenses abroad. Moreover, as previously explained in the section on Health Insurance, MedicareMedicaid will not cover hospital and medical services outside the United States.
Your travel agent should be able to advise you about the right plan for you. Before purchasing travel insurance, review the plan carefully, and be wary of buying coverage that you may already have.
Different Types of Health Insurance in California
Whether you buy group or individual health insurance in California, the options you have regarding the different types of health insurance are generally the same. In some groups you can even choose from available plans. These different types are traditional health insurance, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and preferred provider organizations (PPOs).
California goes beyond the Federal requirements for offering health insurance to its residents. Examples of this include Industry Advantage plans (IAHP), short-term health policies, Insurance for high risk Individuals and special plans for children and teens.
Additional Health Insurance in California
The traditional health care delivery system is based on a fee-for-service type of arrangement. In a fee-for-service system, you pay or each itemized medical service you receive. In the days of the frontier, “Doc” often received a chicken as payment. Today, physicians are paid with money, lots and lots of it. Fee-for-service health insurance recognizes this practice and is designed to reduce or even eliminate your duty to pay directly for your medical care. Traditional health insurance comes in three parts:
California has four basic options for choosing a health care plan:
- 1. Health through an employer or association
- 2. Health Insurance through Income eligibility such as Medicaid
- 3. Health care for high risk individuals such as those that have had cancer or a heart attack
- 4. Private Insurance
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Hospitalization
Hospitalization covers defined expenses incurred while in the hospital. Generally, the insurance will pay for all of the covered services rendered by the hospital staff. However, if the insurance benefit is an indemnity payment, the payment will be for a fixed sum regardless of the actual expenses incurred. This fixed sum will usually be far below the daily charge actually made by the hospital.Medicalsurgical
This part of a traditional health plan covers the expensive costs of medical care other than the bill from the hospital. Services such as doctor visits, treatment charges, etc., are covered here. Medicalsurgical usually has a deductible and requires co-payments by the insured (payments you make for charges not covered by the insurance), typically 20 percent of the doctor’s fee.Catastrophic or major medical
There are usually lifetime maximum payments that hospitalization and medicalsurgical plans will pay, after which the well runs dry. Unfortunately, these maximums may not be sufficient to pay for all of the care required if a major illness or injury should strike, since such afflictions can eat up hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds worth of health services. Thus, catastrophic coverage adds to your umbrella of protection in an amount sufficient to protect you from the horrendous expenses of such serious and prolonged illnesses. These policies also fill in some of the gaps not covered by hospitalization or medicalsurgical.Health Maintenance Organizations or Private Insurance in California
The health maintenance organization (HMO) is a relatively new player in the health insurance game, although it has been around in a limited fashion since the 1930s. The idea behind an HMO is to pay one premium and receive all of your health care at no or a nominal additional cost. The point is to save money compared to traditional health plans that cost more to purchase and require more out-of-pocket payments from the insured. What you, the insured, give in exchange for reduced cost is a substantial loss of your freedom to choose who will take care of your health needs.Preferred Provider Organizations
Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) seek to give both the benefits of traditional health plans and the money savings of HMOs. They do this by paying higher benefits as a reward for your using the doctors or hospitals they preselect for that purpose.Disability Insurance
Disability insurance does not pay for health care; rather it pays for lost wages caused by a disabling injury or illness.How Health Insurance Is Priced
Ask anyone how health insurance is priced and you will get a simple answer: expensively! Beyond that, there are underwriting criteria used by health insurance providers, whether they are for-profit or, like Blue ShieldBlue Cross, nonprofit.Underwriting Criteria
Age
The older you are, the more likely you are to get sick; therefore, the higher your health insurance premiums will be.Number of people covered
Many people buy family coverage rather than individual policies. This means that there will be adults as well as minor children protected by the same plan. Some companies will charge based on the size of the family. Others charge a basic family rate without regard to the number of members.Gender
Unlike life insurance, where women get the better end of the bargain than men, in health insurance women often pay higher premiums. This is based on health insurance industry statistics which indicate that the female of the species tends to need medical care more often than the male.Health history
Insurance operates on statistical probabilities. If you have had a poor health history, statistically you are more likely to have a more expensive health care future. This, in turn, means that you will pay higher premiums-if you can get health insurance at all.Occupation
The more likely you are to suffer injury or illness because of the work you do, the more likely the health insurance industry will be to charge excessively for benefits. This may be well and good for professional deep-sea divers. But the industry has begun to stretch the concept into areas that have nothing to do with the inherent danger of the work.Lifestyle
In your application for health insurance you will be asked questions about your personal habits. Your answers will have a lot to do with the cost of your premiums. If you smoke, you will probably pay more for health insurance. If you drink to excess, you will probably pay more for health insurance. If you are known to be under a great deal of stress, you may pay more for health insurance. California does reward the health care Insurance consumer with lower premiums if they have practiced good health policies.One of the most important things you can do as a health care consumer is to engage in preventive care. Not only will you be able to spot serious diseases at an early stage, thereby increasing your chances of effective treatment and cure, but you should be able to save money as well, since it is usually far less expensive to treat a disease when it’s a molehill rather than a mountain.
About The Author:
Medical-Ins.com is a leading broker of health insurance in California. We provide detailed information and cost breakdowns of Blue Cross, PacifiCare California and many more. Visit our site for a free quote and to help sort through the various health insurance plans to find the more affordable option for your family.
Commonwealth Of Virginia Low Cost Health Insurance
If you live in the Commonwealth of Virginia and are looking for low cost health insurance, you andor your children may be eligible for coverage under one or more of the three FAMIS health plans sponsored by the Commonwealth.
The three FAMIS (Families Access to Medical Insurance Security) plans are as follows:
FAMIS The Children’s Health Insurance Program: This program for children covers services such as:
doctor visits
Well-baby checkups
Hospital visits
Vaccinations
Prescription medicine
Tests and x rays
Dental care
Emergency care
Vision care
Mental health care
FAMIS Moms: This program provides health care for pregnant women up to two months after the pregnancy.
Smiles for Children: This program provides diagnostic, preventive, restorativesurgical procedures and orthodontics (Basically the same coverage as provided through Medicaid) Since this program is primarily for children, it provides limited necessary diagnosticoral surgery services for adults (emergency only)
The beauty of this program is that the co-payments are only 2.00 or 5.00. Regular check-ups are free and there are no monthly premiums or enrollment costs. With Smiles for Children, there are no co-payments or cost for dental services. However, you must use dental providers that are within the network.
To qualify for any of the FAMIS programs the applicant must be a US citizen under 19 (for the Children’s program), live in Virginia and not covered by another plan. You must not have had insurance for 4 months and are not eligible for Medicaid. There are also income requirements. For example, the gross income for a family of 4 must not exceed 40,000 annually. The FAMIS website (http:www.famis.org ) has a family income calculator in which potential insureds may check their income to see if they qualify.
The Commonwealth of Virginia realizes that quality medical care is important, and has successfully provided a low cost health insurance program for their low income residents.
Dishing Out Healthy And Delicious Meals
People with a gift for serving up delicious-but healthful-dishes say it’s important to present food that tastes good, is made with natural ingredients and is good for you. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to mean skipping many classic recipes. These tips may help:
• Portion Size-You can help control weight gain by being wary of portion size. If you’re serving meat, for instance, nutritionists say not to give a portion that’s larger than a deck of cards. Fill the empty space on plates (and in stomachs) with veggies and whole grains.
• Something On The Side-Try serving a healthful vegetable soup and a side salad before dinner. That way, people can fill up on veggies, instead of less nutritious foods. Also, if you’re trying to eat a little less, remember that our bodies often mistake thirst for hunger. So before you dig into dessert, try having a big glass of water and waiting a few minutes. You may turn out to be less hungry than you thought.
• Cooking Tips-Something as simple as switching to nonstick oil sprays can make a difference in how healthy a meal is. For instance, new Mazola Pure™ Cooking Spray is a healthier alternative to high-saturated-fat products such as butter or margarine. It adds Pure™ taste and Pure™ aroma to food, is perfect for fat-free cooking-and unlike other leading sprays, it does not contain alcohol or silicone. It comes in canola oil, extra virgin olive oil and natural butter flavors. It’s also cholesterol free and has 0g trans fat per serving.
The spray can be used in a variety of ways including: adding light flavor when grilling sandwiches, making popcorn, holding seasonings in place on meats and vegetables, sauteing, pan searing seafood and chicken, flipping pancakes and browning foods in the microwave.
Try this delicious and healthful recipe:
Seasoned Roasted
Potatoes
2 lbs mini red or golden potatoes
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 teaspoons rosemary, dry
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
14 teaspoon black pepper, cracked
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
Mazola Pure Cooking Spray -Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. Spray 9″ x 13″ baking pan with olive oil spray.
3. Combine garlic, rosemary, Kosher salt, and black pepper to make seasoning blend. Set aside.
4. Under cold running water, scrub potatoes to remove excess skin.
5. Cut potatoes into approximately 1″ x 1″ cubes. If using very small potatoes, do not cut.
6. Place potatoes in baking pan and spray with olive oil cooking spray until potatoes are coated. Mix potatoes after spraying to ensure even coating.
7. Add reserved seasoning blend and Parmesan cheese, and mix well. Spread mixture in a single layer and spray tops again, lightly with additional spray to help browning.
8. Bake at 450F for 25 to 30 minutes.
Serves: 6
PrepTime: 10 minutes
Discount Vitamins and Nutrition Products Offer Equal Health Benefits
When it comes to discount vitamins and nutrition products, the old adage, “You get what you pay for,” simply doesn’t hold true. Many retail outlets and websites tout overpriced products that promise the moon and don’t deliver. The results you obtain from high quality discount vitamins and nutrition products are as sound as those you get from higher priced products.
Here are a few examples:
Multi-Vitamins – Although some people like taking an assortment of specific vitamins, many more prefer the convenience of a multiple vitamin supplement. Different brands of vitamins – and different multi-vitamins within a given brand – contain different formulations, so it’s important to look at the labels rather than the price tags.
A general multi-vitamin is appropriate for most adults, although special formulations tailored to specific groups of people are available for women, for men, for older adults, and for those who are engaged in sports or other very active lifestyles.
When choosing discount vitamins, look for those that offer multiple sources of nutrients and natural sources of trace minerals and micronutrients. Each person’s ability to absorb nutrients is unique, so multiple sources ensure that virtually everyone can benefit.
Acidophilus Powder – Acidophilus powder is a somewhat generic term for a group of dietary supplements that are probiotics. Probiotics are microorganisms that help the body’s own beneficial bacterium and yeasts. Acidophilus powder and capsulestablets are available in both regular formulations and those specialized for women, vegetarians, and so forth. As with discount vitamins, you can find online sources of acidophilus powder at steeply discounted prices.
St John’s Wort – Everyone from ancient Greeks to modern-day medical professionals have explored the benefits of St John’s Wort. Found to affect the levels of serotonin in the brain, the herbal supplement can improve mild depression, help balance mood swings, and help with sleep problems. Some nutritional products include complementary formulas (such as anti-oxidants) that can also enhance well-being.
Fat Burners and Weight Loss Aids: Some companies that sell the best fat burners charge premium prices, but there’s no reason for you to pay high retail prices when you can buy the same products at deep discounts. Said to stimulate the body’s ability to metabolize fat, the best fat burners contain no ephedrine. HydroxyCut, a popular weight loss supplement said to increase your energy, burn calories, and control appetite, is but one example of a brand name product that can be found online at a steep discount over retail prices. Similarly, you can find a carb blocker through an Internet health and body source at a fraction of the price you would pay at a retailer.
Sports Nutrition: Sports nutrition is big business, but that doesn’t mean that you need to spend big bucks for protein powders, health shakes, muscle formulas, and nutrition bars. Again, you can get a wide variety of high quality, brand name products at the same place where you buy your discount vitamins.
Of course, prices aren’t everything. When you select your online source of discount vitamins, be sure that it also offers expert advice, perhaps in the form of a free weekly newsletter. Look for writing that reflects the knowledge base of the site’s owners. Insightful advice gleaned by trial and error is more valuable that the stale reiterations found on many health websites.
Detoxify Your Way To Health And Beauty
How many times have your brain felt so sluggish that you can’t even think clearly? How many times have you felt so tired that even climbing a single flight of stairs takes a lot from you? Or how about those times when you felt so unpretty that even your best outfit can’t lift your mood? You’ve tried every known trick to stay fit and scoured every shelf in the health and beauty aisle for that wonder product that could revive you but still to no avail. Why not try looking at home and the produce section of your grocery? What am I talking about? I’m talking about detox.
Detoxification is not merely sweating buckets on the gym or starving yourself with a water diet. It is a wholistic approach to health and beauty. It encompasses everything from diet, fitness, and your sense of well-being. Try it for a weekend and start the new week with a renewed and more revived you. Detoxifying your way to health and beauty is possible with a few things which you could conveniently find in your home. With a loofah or brush, scented candles, aromatic oils, herbal tea, and a free, me-time weekend, you’re all set to rejuvenate and renew yourself.
Start on a Friday by eating light (think salads and fruits) and drink lots of water the whole day. At night, slowly dry-massage yourself with a loofah or brush with slow and long strokes. Move in one direction: upward and towards your groin. Refresh yourself with tea or water then soak in a bath of warm water and drops of aromatic bath oil. Light some scented candles while gradually adding cool water within a half hour until your bath becomes slightly cold. This is the beginning of your new health and beauty routine. This process is done for the stimulation of the blood vessels. Dry yourself and dress warmly for bed.
Begin the next day by drinking hot lemon water. Go for a walk while breathing deeply. Give yourself a steam bath or go swimming. You could also ask your partner or therapist for a massage. Again, end your health and beauty detox regimen with a dry-massage brush and bath. Spend your Sunday, doing the whole process but add another activity. Make a list of people or things, such as your work, that are toxic to you (read: bad vibes). Assess how you should deal with them to lessen their toxic effect. After this, pamper yourself or do meditation exercises.
Be reminded though that you may experience excessive sweating, slight headaches, and skin rashes. These are signs that your body is releasing toxins and that they are temporary. Detoxifying is effective, safe, and inexpensive enough to be part of your weekly health and beauty routine. Just remember to avoid this during your period, pregnancy, and sickness. Lastly, talk to your doctor if you encounter any problem while detoxifying.